Animal-trap.



No. 813,333. PATENTED FEB. 20, 1906.

J. H. THARP.

ANIMAL TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 8, 1905.

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T/VESSES. HVI/ENTOR don-IN H.THARP By W C 6r FAWN I ATTORNEYS rmrrnn STATES JOHN HEBER THARP, OF CHEROKEE, KANSAS.

ANIMAL-TRAP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 20, 1906.

Application filed June 8, 1905. Serial No. 264,291.

To a whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN I-IEBER THARP, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Cherokee, in the county of Crawford and State of Kansas, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Animal Traps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in animaltraps; and it consists in certain novel constructions and combinations of parts hereinafter described and claimed. 7

Referring to the drawings forming a part hereof, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section.

In the practical application of my inventio I provide a case A, comprising a bottom plate a, a top plate a, and the four angular corner supports (1 A swinging platform B is hung to the rear supports by means of the pivotpins 1) b, secured to the platform and extending through perforations in the supports. A plunger C is-mounted to slide in the angular corner-supports and is provided on its edges with depending teeth 0 and upon its upper surface with the eyes 0 0 adapted to be engaged by the projecting pins d d of a rockshaft D, journaled in bearings (Z d on the top plate of the casing. The rock-shaft D is provided with the depending arm d for engaging a pin d on the swinging platform to maintain the pinsd d in a horizontal position. A spring E is arranged between the upper face of the plunger and the top plate of the casing for forcibly depressing the plunger when it is released by the rocking of the shaft.

In operation the plunger is lifted against resistance of the spring until the eyes thereon engage the pins on the rock shaft. The shaft is then rocked by the depending arm to bring the pins in horizontal position, and the swinging platform is lifted until it engages a notch d in the depending arm, the tension of the spring providing suflicient resistance between the depending arm and the pins to retain the swinging platform in its elevated position. A slight addition to the weight of the platform, however, will overcome the friction, causing the platform to descend and release the depending arm. The rocking of the shaft allows the eyes to slip from the pins and the plunger to descend.

It will be evident from the description that my improved trap although simple in construction is very efficient in its operation. It is easily set, and there is no complicated of the frame and hinged to the rear thereof, a

pin projecting from the side of the platform, a plunger slidably mounted within the cor ner-supports and provided on its edges with depending teeth, eyes on the upper face of the plunger, a rock-shaft j ournaled transversely of the frame above the plunger and provided with pins for engaging the eyes thereof, a depending arm on the rock-shaft for engaging the pin on the platform to prevent rotation of the shaft, and a spring for forcibly depressing the plunger when released from the pins.

2. In an animal-trap, the combination of a frame, a platform in the bottom of the frame and. hinged to the rear thereof, a pin projecting from the side of the platform, a plunger slidably mounted within the frame and provided on its edges with depending teeth, eyes on the upper face of the plunger, a rockshaft journaled transversely of the frame and above the plunger, and provided with pins for engaging the eyes thereof, a depending arm on the rock-shaft for engaging the pin on the platform to prevent rotation of the shaft, and means for forcibly depressing the plunger when released from the spring.

3. In an animal-trap, the combination of a frame, a spring-actuated plunger mounted within the frame and provided on its edges with depending teeth, eyes on the upper surface of the plunger, a rock-shaft ournaled in the frame and provided with horizontal projecting pins for engaging the eyes to maintain the plunger in its elevated position, means for preventing rotation of the shaft, and means whereby the entrance of an animal within the frame may actuate said preventing means to release the plunger.-

4. In an animal-trap, the combination of a frame, a rock-shaft journaled in the frame a platform hinged within the frame, a springactuated plunger mounted in the frame, means on the rock-shaft for retaining the plunger in itselevated position and means the platform whereby the entrance of an animal upon the platform may release the re- 10 taming means.

JOHN HEBER THARP.

Witnesses:

R. A. BoLIoK, BLAINE COLE. 

